PART 12:

She moved through directories cautiously, searching for the authentication logs Mason said would contain evidence of Leonard’s manipulation. The files were there, exactly where Mason said they’d be. Thousands of lines of code and access records, most of it meaningless. But buried in the noise were patterns, small discrepancies in timestamp records, access logs that had been altered after the fact, authentication signatures that didn’t quite match the users they were supposed to represent.

And then she found it, found a hidden directory labeled maintenance_backup_q3 that contained encrypted files dated over the past 8 months. Scarlett copied everything to her laptop, her hands shaking slightly. This was it. This was the evidence she needed. She was about to disconnect when she heard footsteps in the corridor outside.

Her heart stopped. She killed the monitor, closed her laptop, and pressed herself against the wall behind a server rack. The footsteps got closer, stopped outside the door. The keypad beeped. Someone was entering the access code. Scarlett held her breath. The door opened. A flashlight beam swept across the room.

I know you’re in here, Scarlett. Leonard Graves’ voice was calm, almost gentle, like he was talking to a child who’d gotten lost. Scarlett stayed silent, hidden in the shadows behind the servers. The security system flagged your access 20 minutes ago, Leonard continued. I’ve been waiting to see what you do.

I have to admit, I’m impressed. You actually made it this far. He walked further into the room, his footsteps echoing on the concrete floor. Scarlett could see his shadow moving across the wall. You’re chasing ghosts, you know. Whatever you think you found down here, it won’t be enough. I’ve been very careful. Scarlett’s mind raced.

The room had one exit, and Leonard was standing between her and it. Her phone was in her pocket, but calling for help would give away her position. She needed to talk her way out of this. She stepped out from behind the server rack. Leonard turned, his flashlight catching her face. He looked surprised for about half a second, then smiled.

There you are. I was beginning to think you’d crawled into the ventilation system. What do you want, Leonard? The same thing you want. To protect what I’ve built. He lowered the flashlight. You think I’m the villain here, but you’re wrong. Everything I’ve done has been for this company’s benefit. Insider trading benefits the company, strategic financial planning benefits the company.

I’ve used my knowledge to make smart investments that increase my personal wealth. Yes. But I’ve also steered Orion Global away from disasters you never saw coming. The market information I gathered saved us from at least two catastrophic mergers. By breaking the law. By being smart. Leonard’s voice hardened. You built this company through ruthlessness, Scarlett.

Don’t pretend you’re suddenly concerned with ethics now. I built this company through hard work. You built it by crushing competitors, poaching employees, stealing ideas from people who trusted you. We all have blood on our hands. The only difference is I’m honest about it. Scarlett felt her jaw tighten. And Mason Reed? What was your honest reason for destroying his life? Leonard sighed.

Mason was unfortunate collateral damage. The security systems were getting too sophisticated. I needed someone to take the fall before the real patterns emerged. He was convenient, low-level, no connections, no one who’d fight for him. Except he’s not low-level. He helped design the original Helix infrastructure.

He built half the systems you’ve been using to hide your crimes. Something flickered across Leonard’s face. Surprise maybe? Or respect? You’ve been doing your homework, he said. Yes, Mason was quite talented back in the day. That’s actually why I chose him. I knew if investigators looked deep enough they’d find evidence of his access to critical systems.

It made the frame job more believable. You knew who he was the whole time. Of course. I make it my business to know everyone’s secrets. Leonard took a step closer. Just like I know yours. The real reason you dropped out of MIT, the investors you lied to during the series A funding, the employee who filed a harassment complaint against you that mysteriously disappeared.

Scarlett’s blood went cold. I never harassed anyone? Maybe not. But you made the complaint disappear because it was inconvenient, just like you made Mason Reed disappear because it was convenient. Leonard smiled. We’re not so different, you and I. We both do whatever it takes to survive. No. Scarlett’s voice was steady.

We’re nothing alike because I’m trying to make things right. You’re trying to ease your guilty conscience. There’s a difference. Leonard pulled out his phone. Now. You’re going to give me that laptop, delete whatever files you copied, and walk away from this investigation. In return, I won’t call security and have you arrested for unauthorized access to company systems.

You can’t arrest me. I own this company. For now. But after Thomas’s board vote on Friday, that might change. And once you’re no longer CEO, all those corporate protections disappear. Then it’s just you breaking into secure facilities, stealing data. He paused. How do you think that will look in court? Scarlett’s grip tightened on her laptop.

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